Broiler for stoves and ranges



Jan. 6, 1953 w. KENNEDY BROILER STOVES AND RANGES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 29, 1949 WALTER KENN EDY Patented Jan. 6, 1953 2 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BROILER FOR STOVES AND RANGES Walter Kennedy, Clifiside Park, N. J.

Application March 29, 1949, Serial No. 84,068

8 Claims.

This invention relates to stoves and ranges used for the preparation of foods. More particularly, the invention is concerned with broilers for apparatus of this kind which may be built into, or constitute an attachment for stoves and ranges, and preferably arranged at the: upper rear portion of the apparatus and normally concealed by collapsing of the parts thereof within a housing portion.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following descriptions when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in eachv of the views; and in which:

Fig. l is a front view of a broiler made according to my invention, with the parts in the set-up or operative position, parts of the construction being broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, with part of the construction broken away.

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1, with parts of the construction shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 55 of Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a face view of the pan or receptacle of the broiler, the view looking in the direction of the arrow 6--6 of Fig. 3, and showing parts of the device in collapsed position within the pan of the broiler. I

Fig.7 is a partial section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1,1on an enlarged scale; and .T.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modification. I

In stoves, ranges and the like of conventional form, broiling has been cared for, utilizing the burner servicing the oven, and broilers of this type and kind have been very inefficient in operation.

The purpose of my invention is to provide the upper rear portion of a stove or range with a broiler unit normally contained in collapsed position within an upstanding housing portion on the stove or range and .adapted to be extended into operative position over the top of the stove or range, and by means of which broiling operations can be very efficiently and economically performed. The broiler unit may be in the form of anattachment adapted for mounting on a standard stove or range, or may be built into, and constitute part of the stove or range.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown the broiler unit in the form of an attachment arranged upon the top wall I0 of a stove or range at or adjacent the back wall I thereof, note Fig. 2. The unit comprises a fixed housing portion I2 defined by a back wall I3, a top wall or hood I4, having a depending upper front wall portion or flange l5, and hollow side wall portions I6 and I1. Extending laterally from the side walls I6 and I! are back wall portions I8 and I9 which aid in support of the unit on the stove and also provide a finish at opposite sides of the unit. The housing can be attached to the stove or range in any desired manner as, for example, by mounting strips or brackets, one of which is seen at 20, in Fig. 2 of the drawing, these strips being fixed to the back wall I I of the stove or range.

The broiler comprises a heater or burner element 2| and a food supporting element or grill 22, the latter being supported upon the top ll] of the stove or range and freely movable thereover for positioning beneath the burner 2| in the operation of applying food to be broiled onto, and removal from an adjustable grill 23, constituting part of the element 22.

Disposed within the housing I2 is a supplemental back wall 24 which terminates short of the upper and lower ends of the housing and forms an air duct or flue 25 for circulation of air at the back of the unit. This air circulation prevents direct radiation of heat from the burner to a wall surface adjacent which the housing I2 may be arranged. The burner element 2| comprises a rectangular frame, consisting of a top wall 26, when the unit 2| is in the operative position, as seen in Fig. 2, this wall being ofiset, as seen at 21, to clear the flange I5, the frame also having depending side walls 28 within and between which the burner tubes 29 and the radiant elements 30 of the burner are arranged. The tubes 29 communicate with and extend outwardly from an elongated rectangular fuel supply tube 3| extending along one of the side walls of the frame, as clearly seen in Fig. 4n of the drawing. The side wall ll of the housing has an inner wall portion 32 which includes an offset part 33 forming a bearing socket 34 for one round end of the gas supply tube 3|. A screw 35 engages the end wall 36 at the other end of the tube 3|, thus forming a pivotal mounting of the burner element 2| in the housing.

Attached to the first named end of the tube 3| is a Venturi tube 31 which controls distribu tion of products of combustion to the tube 3|. Mounted in the ofiset wall 33 is the nozzle end 38 of a valve 39, the valve having outwardly of the other wall 32', of the wall portion [1, an operating knob or fingerpiece so for moving the valve into open or closed position, or to adjust the flow of gas to the several burner tubes. Gas is supplied to the valve 39 through a pipe 41 which is coupled. with the gas supply pipe 42 of the range, the latter being indicated diagrammatically in Fig. l of the drawing.

Adjustable on the offset wall portion 32 is an air regulating disc 43, which disc and the wall 33 have registering apertures as at M, to control air supply to the Venturi tube, as in other devices of this kind. The inner wall 32 of the hollow wall portion ll of the housing and. the corresponding wall of the wall portion it), have inwardly projecting spring clips, as indicated at 45, for retainin the burner element 2! in raised position, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These clips can be sprung inwardly by hand, in swinging the element 2! downwardly into the collapsed position seen in Fig. 3.

The bottom of the frame of the element 2| is entirely open, so that the burners 29 and radiants are exposed downwardly to broil food supported upon the grill 523, as will be apparent. The element 22 comprises four detachably coupled units, one unit comprising the front wall portion 46, another the grill 23, another the grill supporting unit ill, and the fourth, the pan G8. The

pan is in the form of a rectangular receptacle of a Width and length to fit within the front portion of the housing 52 and in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Considering the pan from a standpoint of its operative position, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the pan has a front wall 59 to which is welded or otherwise secured, centrally, a block 56 having a tapered bore or socket 5i, preferably of rectangular crosssectional form. The upper edge of the back Wall 52 of the pan has longitudinally thereof, an inwardly extending lip or flange '53. The front wall 49 has at opposite sides of the block fill, inwardly set flanges E-d providing supports for retainer clips 55, note in this connection Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The front wall unit it comprises a center panel portion having an elongated aperture 5! centrally thereof. The aperture terminates at the upper end of the panel in the large opening 58 and the walls of the aperture are defined by spaced plates 59 between the lower ends of which a pin block 6t is secured, the block having a depending tapered pin [it adapted to engage the socket 5i in support of the front wall unit 46 at the forward wall 39 of the pan. The walls 59 join the sides of the panel 56 outwardly curved portions 52 which extend vertically on the panel between the large opening 58 and the bottom thereof. These curved or ribbed portions 62 have transversely alined and vertically spaced notches 53 adapted to receive pivot pins 64 of the bar 4'! in vertically adjusting the grill 23 with respect to the burner. The forward end of the bar 4'! has a knob or fingerpiece note Fig. 6, which is of such size as to pass freely through the opening 53 in attaching and detaching the grill, as will be apparent. The bar 5? carries a depending arm 66 to the lower end of which is pivoted, as seen at iii, a pair of flanged rollers 83 adapted to ride-overthe edge of the walls 59 in guiding vertical movement of the grill 2-3, as will be apparent.

The grill 23 is in the form of a rectangular frame 69 having centrally of the forward rim thereof, an offset portion iii to clear the walls 59. This offset portion is clearly seen in Fig. 6 of the drawing. A plurality of grill rods H extend forwardly and backwardly in the frame and part of these rods are indicated in Fig. 6, the remainder of the rods being omitted for sake of clarity in the showing of this figure. The rear rim of the grill frame 69 is apertured to receive a screw 12 having a threaded engagement with the rear end of the rod 4'! and this screw serves to detachably couple the grill 23 with said rod.

Two similar glass panel frames 13 are detachably pivoted, as seen at 14, with the upper sides of the panel 58 and have at their lower portions U-shaped clips 15 engaging the panel edges to maintain vertical alinement of the frames on said panel. The lower edges of the frame 13 have pairs of clips 16 which are offset outwardly and adapted to engage the upper edge of the wall 49, as clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The window frames 13 have transparent panels 13' therein, of a type to withstand the heat, and these panels will give a clear vision of the products being broiled, as will be apparent.

The lower surface of the Dan 48 has at the four corners thereof, downwardly extending skids 11 which facilitate sliding movement of the unit 22 over the upper surface of the stove H) in movement of the grill 23 beneath the burner of the broiler, as will be apparent. It will also be understood in this connection that the grill 23 may be raised and lowered with respect to the burner by placing the pin 6 in one of the pairs of notches or recesses 63, this operation being performed by swinging the rollers 68 inwardly a sufficient degree to allow the pin 54 to be moved into and out of engagement with vertically spaced notches 63. In moving the pan 48 into the raised or collapsed position, as seen in Fig. 3, the forward edge of the pan is moved vertically in the hood inwardly of the flange or front Wall 15, and in this operation engages a pair of side springs, one of which is seen at 18, in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, which spring serves to support the upper end of the pan against the inner surface of the wall l5. It will be understood that when the pan 48 is in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3, the pan forms a front wall or closure for the frame.

In Fig. 8 of the drawing, I have shown a slight modification where the grill is adapted for use as an electric grill, rather than a gas-fired grill, and here a tube 3| is employed, generally similar to the tube 3|, and having one end seated in an offset socket E9 on the inner wal1 of a wall portion [1, similar to the wall IT. In this connection it will be understood that the ends of the tubes 3| and 3| are free to rotate in their respective sockets, the end of the tube being rounded to fit the socket. In the bore of the socket T9 is arranged an insulator bushing BI and in the outer wall 82 of the end wall I1 is mounted a switch 83 having a fingerpiece control 84, much the same as the fingerpiece ii! of the gas valve 39. The circuit wires 85 will extend up through the wall portion 1 1' through the bushing 8| and connected with suitable electric heating elements, not shown, the circuit through the wires 85 being controlled by the switch 83.

My improved broiler normally assumes the position shown in Fig. 3, when not in use, thus presenting at the back of the stove ID, a raised rectangular body centrally of the back of the stove, which body is defined by the walls l5, l6 and I? and faced by the pan #8. In this position of the parts, the complete unit 22 is collapsed within the pan in the manner illustrated in Fig.

wear

6 of the drawing. In'other words, the panel 56 with the window frames 73 are disposed in the lower portion of the pan, the rod 41 and its associated parts also arranged in the pan and these two units are covered by the grill 23. The grill has its rear edge located beneath the inturn'ed flange portion 53 on the pan and the opposed edge of the grill is held in place by the clips 55.

When it is desired to use the broiler, the pan is first detached by pulling outwardly on the lower end thereof and sliding the upper end from be neath the flange or wall [5, then the grill '23, grill supporting bar 41 and panel 56, including the frames 13, are detached, the pin SI at the lower end of the panel 56 is then inserted in the socket 5i with the clips 16 engaging the upper edge of the wall 49, after which the handle member or knob 65 is passed forwardly through the aperture 58 and the pin 64 is set in one pair of the notches t3, the grill 23 having been previously attached to the bar 41 by coupling of the screw 12, as will be apparent. The unit 22 is now ready for positioning beneath the unit 2|. After the unit 22 has been detached from the frame, the unit 2| is swung vertically on its pivots, which brings the broiler to the position shown in Fig. 2, the clips 45 operating to maintain the unit 2! .in the raised position. Now the unit 22 can be moved beneath the unit 2! as and when the product to be broiled has been arranged upon the grill 23. It will, of course, be understood that the burners are ignited after opening the valve All and the burners are allowed to heat for a short period of time before the broiling operation is started.

While I have referred to the accessory or attachment to a range or stove as a broi'leni-t will be understood that the same may be used in the preparation of toast, or as a means for quick heating of various types and kinds of food products.

For purposes of description, the burner unit or broiler may be said to have a pivotal mounting within the hood casing or housing which is, at all times, disposed at the back of the stove, thus the unit when swung into operative position is disposed over and in spaced relation to the top of the stove at the rear portion thereof. This leaves the remainder of the stove top accessible for use and facilitates sliding movement of the grill unit inwardly and outwardly beneath the heating unit or broiler.

The gri'll unit is independent of the heater unit and comprises colla-psibly related parts which are used or assembled within the pan of said unit and the unit in the collapsed position is insertable and removable from the hood frame and forms a closure for the front of said frame.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stove of the character described having a top wall, a frame arranged upon and extending vertically with respect to the rear portion of the stove and above said top wall, said frame being defined by back, side and top walls forming a hood-like housing with an open front, a heating unit pivotally supported in the upper portion of said housing to swing from a collapsed vertical position to an operative horizontal position with respect to said housing, said unit having a front wall portion concealing the unit within the housing in the collapsed position of said unit, said unit being arranged above and in spaced relation to the top wall of the stove in said horizontal position, manually actuated means controlling operation of the heater unit, means on the side walls of the housing for supporting the heater unit in raised horizontal position, the pivot of the unit in the housing being disposed adjacent the rear wall to maintain said unit adjacent the rear wall when collapsed within said housing, and means forming an air vent passage vertically of the rear wall of said housing.

2. A broiler unit for apparatus of the character described, a hood-like frame comprising back, top and side walls, the top and side walls being of the same width, the front of said frame having a rectangular opening, a rectangular receptacle adapted to fit snugly in said opening to form a front wall detachable in the frame means directly pivoting the broiler unit within the top portion of the frame to swing from a collapsed vertical position within boundaries of the top and side Walls into a usable horizontal position outwardly of the frame above and in spaced relation to the top wall of an apparatus in connection with which the unit is mounted, means controlling operation of said broiler unit, the pivotal mounting of the unit in connection with said frame comprising an elongated tube, a venturi at one end of said tube, and said controlling means including a valve having a nozzle end extending into said venturi.

3. A broiler unit for apparatus of the character described, a hood-like frame comprising back, top and side walls, the top and side walls being of the same width, the front of said frame having a rectangular opening, means directly pivoting the broiler unit within the top portion of the frame to swing from a collapsed vertical position within boundaries of the top and side walls into a usable horizontal position outwardly of the frame above and in spaced relation to the top wall of an apparatus in connection with which the unit is mounted, means controlling operation of said broiler unit, means on the side walls of the frame for supporting said unit in horizontal position, and rectangular means detachable with the frame forming a complete closure for the rectangular opening of the frame when said unit is collapsed in vertical position within said frame.

4. A broiler unit for apparatus of the character described, a hood-like frame comprising back, top and side walls, the top and side walls being of the same width, the front of said frame having a rectangular opening, means directly pivoting the broiler unit within the top portion of the frame to swing from a collapsed vertical position within boundaries of the top and side walls into a usable horizontal position outwardly of the frame above and in spaced relation to the top wall of an apparatus in connection with which the unit is mounted, means controlling operation of said broiler unit, means on the side walls of the frame for supporting said unit in horizontal position, rectangular means detachable with the frame forming a complete closure for the rectangular opening of the frame when said unit is collapsed in vertical position within said frame, and said last-named means comprising a grill unit having detachably coupled parts which, in assembled condition, is adapted for arrangement beneath said broiler unit.

5. A broiler unit for apparatus of the character described, a hood-like frame comprising back, top and side walls, the front of the frame being open, means directly pivoting the broiler unit in the frame to swing from a collapsed vertical position into a, usable horizontal position above and in spaced relation to the top wall of an apparatus in connection with which the unit is mounted, means controlling operation of said broiler unit, said broiler unit having a wall portion forming a closure entirely concealing the unit when collapsed in the frame, a grill unit normally collapsible within said frame, said grill unit comprising a pan and a grill part, said pan forming a closure for the front opening of the frame, said grill unit having a front wall part, and means on the grill part and said front wall part for adjustably supporting the grill part vertically on said front wall part.

6. In a stove of the character described having a top wall, a hood-like housing arranged upon and extending vertically with respect to the rear portion of the stove and above said top wall, said housing being defined by back, side and top walls, said housing having an open front, the top Wall having a short depending front Wall portion, a heating unit comprising a frame pivotally supported in the upper portion of said housing to swing from a collapsed vertical position to an operative horizontal position with respect to said housing, said frame having a wall forming the top of the unit when in operative position, a burner in said unit, the top wall of the unit concealing the burner Within said housing in the collapsed position of the unit, and said short depending front wall portion of the housing engaging said unit in checking movement of the unit into horizontal position.

'7. In a stove of the character described having a top wall, a hood-like housing arranged upon and extending vertically with respect to the rear portion of the stove and above said top wall, said housing being defined by back, side and top walls, said housing having an open front, the top wall having a short depending front wall portion, a heating unit comprising a frame pivotally supported in the upper portion of said housing to swing from a collapsed vertical position to an operative horizontal position with respect to said housing, said frame having a wall forming the top of the unit when in operative position, a burner in said unit, the top wall of the unit eoncealing the burner within said housing in the collapsed portion of the unit, said short depending front wall portion of the housing engaging said unit in checking movement of the unit into horizontal position, and the pivot of the unit in the housing being disposed adjacent the rear wall to maintain said unit adjacent the rear wall when collapsed within said housing.

8. In a stove of the character described having a top wall, a hood-like housing arranged upon and extending vertically with respect to the rear portion of the stove and above said top wall, said housing being defined by back, side and top walls, said housing having an open front, the top wall having a short depending front wall portion, a heating unit comprising a frame pivotally supported in the upper portion of said housing to swing from a collapsed vertical position to an operative horizontal position with respect to said housing, said frame having a wall forming the top of the unit when in operative position, a burner in said unit, the top Wall of the unit eoncealing the burner within said housing in the collapsed position of the unit, said short depending front wall portion of the housing engaging said unit in checking movement of the unit into horizontal position, a grill unit normally collapsible in the housing within said front wall portion, said grill unit being adapted to be movably arranged on the top wall of the stove for positioning beneath said heating unit.

WALTER KENNEDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,151,072 Walker Aug. 24, 1915 1,173,742 Roos Feb. 29, 1916 1,505,273 Maul Aug. 19, 1924 2,029,257 Dibble Jan. 28, 1935 2,156,860 Lucas May 2, 1939 2,207,307 Teller July 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 138,157 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1920 

